Stranger, pause and look;
From the dust of ages
Lift this little book,
Turn the tattered pages,
Read me, do not let me die!
Search the fading letters finding
Steadfast in the broken binding
All that once was I!
-Edna St. Vincent Millay, Collected Poems

Here we are….February. Closer to spring. But the first order must be to get through the month. How are you doing it? Me? I’m in an online book club, part of the 2024 Literary Landmark Virtual Book Club hosted by the U.S. Grant Cottage State Historic Site located in Mt. McGregor, NY. Our first book has been John Reeves’, SOLDIER OF DESTINY: SLAVERY, SECESSION, AND THE REDEMPTION OF ULYSSES S. GRANT. Then onto KLAN WAR: ULYSSES S. GRANT AND THE BATTLE TO SAVE RECONSTRUCTION by Fergus Bordewich. Plus, my side reading which currently is Steve Martin’s SHOPGIRL because when shelving it jumped out at me.

Since I’ve been having bookcases built for the store I’ve cut down on my Dinner & a Book outings. Instead, I’ve been enjoying Tea & a Book working it in whenever I can. Stone Leaf Teahouse and the Middlebury Natural Food Co-op are two places I frequent. Both cozy and familiar.

Check out the newer bookcase found in the Children’s Room. Note: no more baskets or apple boxes on the floor. Books all up on shelves. Still working on reorganizing. One more bookcase and some wall shelves to still be made. Then OCUB will be amazing. Oh, paint, or no? So far, no but always welcoming suggestions.

A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.
-C.S. Lewis